Vacation

Joshua and I head to the Midwest on Saturday for two weeks of vacation. I hope to be able to check e-mail while on the trip, but don't know if I'll post to my blog or not. We'll be visiting my relatives in south-eastern Minnesota for about a week. We look forward to seeing my cousins who recently returned from Bolivia. I am hoping they can help keep Joshua's Spanish fresh. We anticipate innertubing down a river, some fishing,and just relaxing. The second week of our vacation will be spent in the Detroit area with Jon's younger brother's family. Joshua is excited to see his three Moran cousins and we hope some of the other family members will be able to visit us while we're there. After this exhausting week of VBS I look forward to a couple weeks of just relaxing.

Sheryl

Vacation Bible School

What happens when you take 200 children ages 5 to 9, toss in a hundred teenage and adult leaders for three hours at church? You get an exciting, exhausting, fun Vacation Bible School -- VBS. I have a "small" group of 13 children who will be starting 1st grade in the fall. Joshua is one of my group members and so far we are having a great time together -- all of us. I started off a little stressed by the initial chaos, which is the Monday of VBS. But today was a little better, although we had to improvise when it rained during our outdoor snack time. The kids are learning about the treasures hidden in God's Word. Yesterday they learned that God Loves Us and today that God Knows Us. It is awesome. I am ready for a nap most days when I get home, but that's okay, it's a good kind of tired. :)

Sheryl

Harry Potter

After returning from camping, my cold did get worse and so Joshua and I have not done much. We have spent a lot of time hanging out at home listening to the recording of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire -- book 4 in the series. We are completely addicted and loving it. :)

Yesterday I had the amazing honor of being installed as an elder at my church. I was first ordained as an elder at Trinity Presbyterian Church about 16 years ago, when I was an even younger elder. This experience was meaningful in a different way. I am so loved and cared for at this church and I am humbled to be called to serve in this way.

If you read Jon's blog, you know that we had an hour-long video conference call yesterday. It was rather strange sitting in a huge conference room with two large TVs at the end of the table. One showed Joshua and me sitting at a microphone and the other was filled with Jon sitting in a small room in front of a desk. I think Joshua enjoyed watching himself on TV. It was good to be able to see Jon even if it was a bit unusual setting.

This week is Vacation Bible School and I'm a small group leader for the 1st graders. Joshua still loves to have me involved with him so how could I turn down this great opportunity.

Sheryl

Camping

As most of you probably know, Jon is a BIG camper. One summer he camped at the beach every other weekend for the entire summer. I, on the other hand, would rather leave the camping to Jon and Joshua. But being a "good mother" I thought I should take Joshua camping at least once while Jon is gone. Maybe I just wanted to prove to myself that I could do it.

Fortunately, my college friend Lauri was able to join Joshua and me this week and so we were able to set up our new tent. Joshua gave encouraging comments as we went along like, "Mommy, I think you need Daddy." But Lauri and I were able to successfully raise the tent and I have photographic proof. I was even able to start our evening fire with just newspaper, wood and a lighter -- even Jon usually uses fuel to give his fire a boost.

Now I'm home trying to fight off a chest cold. I am so grateful to friends Sergio and Wyndi who took Joshua for the afternoon so I could run a couple errands and just rest. Joshua and I are looking forward to our first video call with Jon on Sunday afternoon. We'll let you know how it goes.

Sheryl

Happy Father's Day

Kindergarten Graduate

Thursday, June 15, 2006, Joshua officially graduated from Kindergarten. All the parents joined the students and Sra. Unzueta for a fiesta and diploma presentation. The kids all look so grown up compared to August 2005 when we took them to school for the first time. Joshua along with the other English speaking kids are doing quite well with their Spanish.

We are both looking forward to a fun summer but we have started off with colds. Joshua has had a runny nose for a few days and started coughing this morning. My throat is bothering me and I feel kind of wiped out. Maybe it's just from all the craziness of the past few weeks.

Jon has been gone for 4 months and we are counting down -- hopefully a little less then 7 weeks -- till he comes home for his 2 weeks of leave. Yipee!

Sheryl

14th Anniversary

Fourteen years ago today I woke early with excitement and anticipation for a great wedding celebration. Little did I know what the next 14 years would include. Ahhh! Isn't that the way of life?! This week I read through my scrapbook that chronicles the years between our meeting and our wedding. The book is very thick with many pictures and stories but since then, the books are thicker and the stories are many and varied. I have come to believe that one of the reasons God created marriage was to help a man and a woman learn how to become whole people, healthy people, the kind of people God created us to be. And that road is full of beauty as well as hardship. It is full of immense and deep love as well as anger and hurt. It is a road I am so honored to be traveling with my best friend, my son's father, my lover, my husband Jon.

Happy Anniversary, Jon.

Sheryl

Family Time

Sunday afternoon my family celebrated my nephew Evan's 6th birthday on a beautiful day in San Marcos. Here is a picture of the family who was able to attend (minus the kids). From left to right are my brother Steve, mom Helen, sister Sandy, dad Joe, sister-in-law Sandi and brother-in-law Sonny. The kids must have been off playing.

Sheryl

Anniversary Date

This Tuesday, June 13th, Jon and I will celebrate 14 years of marriage. Unfortunately we won't do that together. To help ease some of the loss, my dear small group took me on an anniversary date Saturday evening. They arranged for a babysitter -- that was maybe the best gift. Then Steve and Claire picked me up and brought me a corsage. The rest of the group -- Terry, Cindy, Nanci, Brad and Cory (missed you Pam) -- met us at Sarducci's in San Juan. Then we enjoyed a fabulous meal with appetizers, a delicious dinner and desserts that we all shared. Here I am posing with my "dates" for the evening. We also took a picture of the "girls" but that is on someone else's camera. Thank you all, dear friends, for the best "date" I've had in about 4 months.

Sheryl

Another Tooth Bites the Dust

Joshua has had a second loose tooth for over a week. The big tooth was coming in right behind it, but he didn't want to pull or have me even touch the baby tooth. Then in the middle of the night I get a call, "Mom, Mom, come here, I've got my tooth." Not sure how it happened but it came out and he had it on his finger. We agreed that the tooth fairy had probably already been by so we'll see if she remembers to visit tonight. :)

Sheryl

June Gloom

If you live in Southern California, this posting may not be very interesting to you, especially if you, like me, live within 2 miles of the ocean. It is an awesome place to live, but the weather during May and June have become known as May Gray and June Gloom, for obvious reasons. A note to any tourist, if you want to see Disneyland in the sun, don't come till after July 4th. This week the clouds and fog have been so thick that we have had drizzle. It is amazing. For proof, I offer these pictures taken at 10:00 a.m. from my porch and by the side of my house. We have hills on either side of us -- within half a mile -- but you wouldn't have known it this morning. I must say this is nice jogging weather. And kids don't even notice it.

We have lots of fun things planned for the weekend. Joshua will get to see Cars (the new Pixar movie) this afternoon as part of the birthday party for his friend Alex. Saturday, my dear friends in our church small group are taking me out for a special anniversary dinner -- Jon and I celebrate 14 years of marriage on June 13th. Sunday after church Joshua and I will head south to celebrate cousin Evan's 6th birthday with family and friend. Then next week will be the final week of school and summer will begin. Have lots of things planned -- hopefully the weather will clear up soon, but even still, we are blessed to live in this beautiful place.

Sheryl

Donkey Tales

Wednesday night Joshua performed in his first musical. Donkey Tales was put on by the San Clemente Presbyterian Church Children's Praise Choir and Youth Club. They did a great job and the parents and friends in attendance almost filled the sanctuary. Joshua got to sing and/or dance in three of the songs. I say "and/or" because I noticed that if there was some choreography, he was concentrating on that and not singing. If they were just singing, then he managed and sing most of the words to the song. It was great fun and a wonderful way to share the message of the love of Jesus through stories about donkeys in the Bible. Here we are at the performance.

Sheryl

Joshua visits the Midway

On Sunday Joshua was able to join about 30 dads and kids from our church on a train ride from San Juan to San Diego to visit the Navy Aircraft Carrier Midway. Good friend Jim was "dad" to three boys -- thanks, Jim. Here Joshua is with his good friend JT in a helicopter on the Midway. He had an awesome day. Thanks to all the dad who helped to make it a great day for Joshua.

Sheryl

Being Cared For

This morning I was able to experience one of the best sensations known to humans -- a body massage. I have a good friend who does this professionally and she offered to give me a great discount on a massage at her home. I still feel like I just might float away two hours later. Ahhh... Enough said.

Yesterday the San Juan Seniors once again sent Joshua and me a card along with a generous gift. That gift helped to cover the cost of my massage and Joshua and I have not yet decided how to enjoy the rest of the gift.

What a blessing to be surrounded by so many friends and neighbors who go out of their way to care for Joshua and me while Jon is gone.

Today is June 1st and in case you didn't know, two months from today we anticipate Jon starting on his journey home for 2 weeks of leave. We are so excited and every night Joshua prays that "Daddy will come home in August."

Blessings to those of you who shower all three of us with your love and prayers. God is using you whether you know it or not.

Sheryl